Safety panel-box



H. F. KRANTZ.

SAFETY PANEL BOX.

APPLICATION FELED FEB. 11. 1919.

m 9 m 1. M 00 0. U bk n 8 m Ms D m P H. F. KRANTZ.

SAFETY PANEL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. II. l9l9.

Patented Feb. 8,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. F. KR ANTZ.

SAFETY PANEL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-H.19l9.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

3 $HEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KRANTZ MANUFAC-TURING COMPANY, INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

1,367,912. Original application filed April e, 1916,

To all whom itimag concern:

Be it known that I, HUBEn'r F. KRANTZ, residing at Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New ,York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Safety Panel-Boxes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention is a division of the invention shown and described in myco-pending application Serial No. 89,350, filed April 6, 1916, andrelates to a switch mechanism for controlling electrical circuits, andmore particularly to an electro-mechanical means for controlling theoperation of the switch.

An object is to provide a safety switch boX, and magnetically operablemeans to controlthe door lock.

A further object is to provide a safety switch box, and an overloaddevice to control the door lock.

A further; object isto provide'a switch with the door swung into itsvertical open mechanism, including a container, and combining, withmeans to prevent opening of the container while the switch is on, amagnetic control for the switch, and further to provide, in thecombination, an auxiliary, key-operable means to. operate the switch.

A further object isto so mount the switch that it is bodily movable intoand out of co operative, relation with the magnetic control by movementof the door.

A further object is to provide a magnetic device for effecting offmovement of the switch, and to provide a toggle arranged to stand inmade position to hold the switch on and to be broken by the magnetic control topermit theswitch to move off.

Anotherobject is to provide a switch mechanism adapted to.' operateautomaticallyby a change in the load of the circuit, in conjunction witha special key arrangement whereby an unauthorized person may not operatethe same, together,v with means affordingthefreest possible inspectionof all of the working parts while at tlie saine time insuring that theywjll be deadiidn-ring such periods of inspection or repair; "'1

Other objects will'be in part obvious from the annexed drawings, and inpart indicated in connection therewith. by the following analysis ofthisinvention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

SAFETY PANEL-BOX.

\ Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Serial No. 89,350. Divided and this application filed February 11,

1919. Serial No. 276,348.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and therelative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completelyoutlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend theunderlying features hereof that they may embody the same by the numerousmodifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention,drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of thisdisclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts throughout all the views; of which Figure l is asectionalside elevation of this mechanism showing parts in full lines inthe door-locked close-circuit position of the switch.

Fig. 2 is a top view of this arrangement position.

Fig. 3 is an inverted section with the base of the box removedandlooking upwardly as indicated by the arrowsimarked III in Fig. 1.

The form in which the various elements have been illustrated willsuflice to typify the modifications which they may assume.

Thus, A indicates a structure in the nature of a housing or casingadapted normally to obstruct access to the operating elements. Here,this casing assumes the form of ,a box formed of a base 1, the end walls2 and 3,

' the side walls i and 5 and the stationary'top 6."'This top is providedwith a cut-away portion providing an opening 7 for the purpose ofaffording access to the parts to en- "abl'e' them to be replacedorinspected, This opening is normally closed'by means of a door or coverB arranged to be readily displaced from its closing position as by being"l'iinged at 8 to 'the stationary top. A poran obstructing position,operating as a barrier to prevent the hand from contacting hand.

ed that it will be shifted into a more accessi-- ble position wheneverthe door is opened, and a convenient manner of doing this is to mountthe same directly on said door. Thus, this switch device consists of aframe D, positioned on the cover B by means of studs 12, so that theswinging switch blade or brush F may make contact with the mainlineterminal C on the one hand and with the branch-line terminal E on theother This brush F is preferably pivoted as by being clamped to a rocker13 which swings about a pivot 14. The blade F is of laminatedconstruction, being formed of successive layers of copper sheets.clamped together near their middle by means of rivets 15 and therebysecured to the rocker 13. A

spring 16, tends constantly to throw the switch into its neutral or offposition as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and this movement maybe prevented by means of a toggle formed of links (1? and H. Link Hswings about the fixed pivot 17 and is connected by means of the movingpivot 18 to the floating link G which in turn is connected at 19 to therocker 13. The pin 20 serves to limit movement of the toggle in madeposition. When the toggle is in made position it holds the switch bladeflexed against the terminals C and E. The tendency of the resilientblade to unfiex serves to hold the toggle made.

By reason of the resiliency of the blade no difiiculty arises when theswitch device is displaced bodily since this construction precludes thenecessity of accurate alinement of parts.

The toggle may be broken or erected by means of a special key 29 adaptedto be inserted through the key-hole 22 from the exterior of the door B.In breaking the toggle the swinging extremity of the key will impact theshoulder 21 of the link H thereby swinging it anti-clockwise (Fig. 3)over its dead center, and this will then allow the spring 16 to exertitself and throw the toggle into full broken position, as seen by thedotted lines in Fig. 3; thereby moving the switch into its open circuitposition. On the other hand, with the parts in off position, the freeend of the key may swing against the surface 23 by a reverse movementand restore the toggle to its made position. The angular relation of theshoulders 21 and 23 to each other provide spaced legs, as of abell-crank upon the link l-I; so that the key is free to play within thespace between the legs and is operable to swing the bell-crank in eitherdirection according as the key is turned against one leg or the other.

It will be observed that when the brush F is in the closed circuitposition. the door cannot be opened, because the end of the brushadjacent the terminal E lies underneath the lip 24 of the stationarycover which would obstruct its upward rise. lVhen in open circuitposition. however. the brush clears said lip and the door may readily beopened. I

The over-load control device, above referred to, includes a solenoidcoil K made up of a few turns of heavy copper wire arranged in serieswith the branch line circuit and the terminal E. A core, or plunger. L.is mounted to slide within the coil K and is connected at its outer endto one end of a lever M. The lever M is pivotally mounted intermediateits ends. as at upon a frame 26 which is stationary within the casing.

Should the current through the coil K become excessive. the core L wouldbe drawn to the right, (Fig. 1) and cause the remaining end, 27, of thelever M to swing to the left against the extension 28 of the link H.swinging the link H about its pivot 17 so as to break the toggle. I

It will be observed, from this construction, that since the switch bladeconstitutes the door lock, and that since the position of this door lockis controlled by the position of the toggle, the magnetically operableover-load device constitutes also a magnetically operable means tocontrol the door lock.

In this connection it is interesting to note that if the key 29 foroperating the toggle should become lost while the door stands locked,yetthe switch blade may be thrown off and the door unlocked by passingan excessive current through the coil K. thus avoiding necessity fordestroying or deranging any of the parts of the box or of the switchmechanism. This feature is of importance particularly since to force thedoor open, in this structure where the switch blade itself is theelement resisting the force, is extremely likely at least to result indestroying the switch blade. Itis, of course, to be observed that thetoggle in its made position, serves to lock the switch blade in positionoverlapping the part 24 of the easing, and that this arrangement cannotbe destroyed while the toggle remains-made except by injuring, orbreaking some element of the device.

The adjacent ends of the parts 27 and 28 are shown beveled. This is toprevent the lever 27 from interfering with the closing of the door andat the same time to insure the bringing of the partf28 into propercooperative relation with the part 27 when the door is swung closed. Itis to be noted that the magnetic control is not movable with the doorbut that it remains stationary within the casing and that the switchmechanism, which is movable with the door, is adapted to be swung intoand out of cooperative relation with the magnetic control by theswinging of the door.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, itis intended that all matter contained in the above description or shownin the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative onlyand not in a limiting sense. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An electrically operated switch combininga housing having a cover; a key actuated switch blade in said housing; asolenoid for throwing said blade' and means for antomatically lockingsaid door closed when said switch is in its closed circuit position.

2. An organization of the nature disclosed combining a switch mechanism;an electrical device for automatically actuating the same; a structureembodying a displaceable cover for inclosing all current-carryingelements; a lock normally holding said door closed; and a connection forreleasing said lock automatically when said device has actuated saidmechanisms.

3. A housing; a door hinged to close an opening thereof; a key actuatedswitch mechanism connected with said door so as to be bodily shiftedthereby when said door is displaced; and an electrical device for automatically actuating said switch mechanism.

4. A housing; a door hinged to close an opening thereof; a switchmechanism connected with said door so as to be bodily shifted therebwhen said door is displaced; an electrical evice for automaticallyactuating said switchmechanism; and a connection holding said doorlocked until said de vice has operated said switch mechanism.

5. A housing; a door hinged to close an opening thereof; a switchmechanism connected with saiddoor so as to be bodily shifted thereb whensaid door is displaced;

an electrical evice for automatically actuating said switch mechanism; aconnection holding saiddoor locked until said device has operated saidswitch mechanism; and a detachable key adapted to operate through saiddoor to move said switch mechanism into its closed circuit position.

6. A device of the class described comprising a housing, the housinghaving a door giving access there1nto,a lock for the door,

magnetically operable means for controlling said lock, and said lockcomprising a switch mechanism connected to be moved into on and offpositions by said magnetically operable means.

7. A device of the class described comprising a housing, the housinghaving a door giving access thereinto, a switch mechanism within thehousing movable into on and off positions and having a part constitutinga lock for the doorwhen the switch mechanism is in on position, and anoverload device connected with said switch mechanism and operable tounlock the door upon occasion of an over-load in the circuit.

8. A device of the class described compris ing a housing, the housinghaving a door giving access thereinto, a switch mechanism within thehousing movable into on and off positions and having a part constitutinga lock for the door when the switch mechanism is in on position, and anoverload device connected with said switch mechanism and operable tomove the switch mechanism off and to thereby unlock the door uponoccasion of an over-load in the circuit.

9. A device of the class described comprising a housing. the housinghaving a door giving access thereinto, a switch mechanism within thehousing movable into on and off positions and having a part constitutinga lock for the door when the switch mechanism is in on position, anoverload device connected with said switch mechanism and operable tomove the switch mechanism ofi' and to thereby unlock the door uponoccasion of an over-load in the circuit, and said switch mechanismcomprising also an auxiliary key-operable means for moving saidmentioned part.

10. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a switchmechanism within the casing movable into on and off positions, magneticcontrol means for said switch. mechanism, and means whereby said switchmechanism is mounted to move into and out of cooperative relationwithsaid magnetic control means. I I 11., A device of the classdescribed cont prising a casing, a switch mechanism therein movable intoon and off positions. an over-load control for said switch mech anism,and means whereby said switch mechanism is mounted to move into and outof cooperative relation with said over-load control. I

. 12. A device of the class described comprising a casing having anopening thereinto a closure member for said opening, a switch mechanismwithin the casing movable into on and off positions, magnetic controlmeans for said switch mechanism, and means whereby movement of saidclosure member is adapted to move said .switch mechanism into and out ofcooperative relation with said magnetic control means.

13. A device of the class described comprising a casing having anopening thereinto, a closure member for said opening, a switch mechanismwithin the casing movable into on and off positions. magnetic controlmeans for said switch mechanism, and said switch mechanism being mountedupon said closure member to be moved into and out of cooperativerelation with said magnetic control means by movement of said closuremember.

14. A device of the class described comprising a switch mechanismincluding a switch blade movable into 011" and off positions and atoggle connected to stand in made position for holding the switch bladeon and to permit movement of the switch blade off when the toggle isbroken, and a magnetic control for said toggle.

15. A device of the class described comprising a switch mechanismincluding a switch blade movable into on and oiV-positions and a toggleconnected to stand in made position'for holding the switch blade on andto permit movement of the switch blade off when the toggle is broken,and an over-load control for said toggle.

16. A device of the class described comprising a switch mechanismincluding a switch blade movable into on and off positions and a toggleconnected to stand in made position for holding the switch blade on andto permit movement of the switch blade 01f when the toggle is broken,and

an over-load control having a part operable to break the toggle upon theoccasion of an over-load in the circuit.

17. A device of the class described comprising a switch mechanismincluding a switch blade movable into on and 0H positions and a toggleconnected to stand in made position for holding the switch blade on andto permit movement of the switch blade off when the toggle is broken,magnetic control means for the toggle, and means whereby the switchmechanism is mounted to move into and out of cooperative relation withsaid magnetic control means.

18. A device of the class described comprising a casing having anopening thereinto, a closure member for said opening movable into openand closed positions, a lock for said closure member movable to open andclosed positions, a toggle included in said lock movable into made andbroken positions, and adapted, when in made position, to hold the lockin closedposition, a switch blade also included in said lock, a contactwith which said switch blade cooperates, and an over-load device tocontrol said toggle.

19. A device of the class described comprising a casing, the casinghaving an opening thereinto, a. closure member for said opening movableinto open and closed positions, a switch mechanism within the easing, aswitch blade included in said switch mechanism having a part movableinto and out of a position serving to retain said closure member closed,a toggle also included in the switch mechanism for so moving the switchblade, a contact with which the switch blade cooperates, andmagnetically operable means for actuating the toggle.

20. A device of the class described comprising a casing, the casinghaving an opening thereinto, a closure member for said opening movableinto open and closed positions, a switch mechanism within the casing, aswitch blade included in said switch mechanism having a part movableinto and out of a position serving to retain said closure member closed,a toggle also included in the switch mechanism and movable into made andbroken positions for'so moving the switch blade, a contact with whichthe switch blade cooperates, means to manually move the toggle into oneof its positions,

and magnetically operable means to move the toggle to its otherposition.

21. A switch mechanism comprising a housing having an opening therein, amovable cover for closing the said opening, a switch member movable toopen and to closed position and adapted, when in closed position, tohold the door closed, and electromagnetic means for opening the switchmember.

22. A switch mechanism comprising a housing having an opening therein, amovable cover for closing the said opening, a switch member movable toopen and to closed position and adapted, when in closed position, tohold the door closed, key-controlled means for manually operating theswitch and for holding the switch member in closed position, andelectro-magnetic means for operating the said key-controlled meanswhereby the switch is moved to open position.

23. A switch mechanism comprising a housing having an opening therein, amovable cover for closing the said opening, a switch member movable toopen and to closed position and adapted, when in closed position, tohold the door closed, key-controlled means for manual-1y operating theswitch and for holding the switch member in closed position, andelectro-magnetic means for opening the switch.

24. A switch mechanism comprising a housing having an opening therein,amovable cover for closing the said openin a switch member movable toopen an to closed position and adapted, when in closed position, to holdthe door closed, electromagnetic means for opening the said switchmember, and manually operable means for operating the switch memberindependently of the electromagnetic means.

25. The combination with a circuitbreaker mechanism and a housing havinga mo 'able cover preventing access to the live elements of the mechanismwhen in closed position, of a means for electrically operating the saidmechanism, and a means for holding the cover closed, said means being,responsive to the electrically operated means.

26. Switch mechanism comprising a housing having an opening therein, amovable cover for closing the opening, separate current-conductingterminal members, switch mechanism movable to open and to closedposition for connecting the terminals and for holding the cover inclosed position when the mechanism is in closed position,

and electrically operated means for actuating the switch mechanism.

27. Switch mechanism comprising a housing having an opening therein, amovable,

cover for closing the opening, separate current-conducting terminalmembers, switch mechanism movable to open and to closed position forconnecting the terminals and for holding the cover in closed positionwhen the mechanism is in closed position, and means operated by'currentin the circuit controlled by the switch mechanism for actuating theswitch mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature inthe, presence of twowitnesses.

HUBER-T F. KRANTZ.

\Vitnesses S. L. WHITLOCK, J. A. NEWTON.

